Radioterminals Including Satellite/Hands-Free Interlocks and Related Methods

ABSTRACT

A radioterminal may include a transceiver, a hands-free interface, and a satellite/hands-free interlock. The transceiver may be configured for space-based communications and for terrestrial wireless communications. The satellite/hands-free interlock may be configured to prevent the transceiver from transmitting space-based communications unless the hands-free interface is activated. Related methods are also discussed.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of priority as a divisionalof U.S. application Ser. No. 11/094,931, entitled Satellite/Hands-FreeInterlock Systems And/Or Companion Devices For Radioterminals AndRelated Methods, filed Mar. 31, 2005, which claims priority from U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/560,221, entitledSatellite/Hands-Free Interlock Systems And Methods For Radioterminals,filed Apr. 7, 2004. The disclosures of both of the above referencedpatent applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to radioterminal communications systems andmethods, and more particularly to terrestrial cellular and satellitecellular radioterminal communications systems and methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Satellite communications systems and methods are widely used forwireless communications. Satellite communications systems and methodsgenerally employ at least one space-based component, such as one or moresatellites, that is/are configured to wirelessly communicate with aplurality of satellite radioterminals.

A satellite radioterminal communications system or method may utilize asingle satellite antenna pattern (beam) covering an entire area servedby the system. Alternatively, in cellular satellite radioterminalcommunications systems and methods, multiple antenna patterns (beams orcells) are provided, each of which can serve substantially distinctgeographical areas in the overall service region, to collectively servean overall satellite service footprint. Thus, a cellular architecturesimilar to that used in conventional terrestrial cellular/PCSradioterminal systems and methods can be implemented in cellularsatellite-based systems and methods. The satellite typicallycommunicates with radioterminals over a bidirectional communicationspathway, with radioterminal communications signals being communicatedfrom the satellite to the radioterminal over a downlink or forward link,and from the radioterminal to the satellite over an uplink or returnlink.

The overall design and operation of cellular satellite radioterminalsystems and methods are well known to those having skill in the art, andneed not be described further herein. Moreover, as used herein, the term“radioterminal” includes cellular and/or satellite radioterminals withor without a multi-line display; Personal Communications System (PCS)terminals that may combine a radioterminal with data processing,facsimile and/or data communications capabilities; Personal DigitalAssistants (PDA) that can include a radio frequency transceiver and/or apager, Internet/Intranet access, Web browser, organizer, calendar and/ora global positioning system (GPS) receiver; and/or conventional laptopand/or palmtop computers or other appliances, which include a radiofrequency transceiver. As used herein, the term “radioterminal” alsoincludes any other radiating user device/equipment/source that may havetime-varying or fixed geographic coordinates, and may be portable,transportable, installed in a vehicle (aeronautical, maritime, orland-based), or situated and/or configured to operate locally and/or ina distributed fashion at any other location(s) on earth and/or in spaceusing any frequency or frequencies. A radioterminal also may be referredto herein as a “radiotelephone,” “terminal”, or “wireless user device”.

A terrestrial network can enhance cellular satellite radioterminalsystem availability, efficiency and/or economic viability byterrestrially using and/or reusing at least some of a frequency bandthat is allocated to and/or used by a cellular satellite radioterminalsystem or systems. In particular, it is known that it may be difficultfor a cellular satellite radioterminal system to reliably serve denselypopulated areas, because a satellite signal may be blocked by high-risestructures and/or may not penetrate into buildings. As a result, asatellite spectrum may be underutilized or unutilized in such areas. Theterrestrial reuse of at least some of the cellular satellite systemfrequencies can reduce or eliminate this potential problem.

The capacity of a hybrid system, comprising terrestrial andsatellite-based communications connectivity and configured toterrestrially use and/or reuse at least some frequencies of asatellite-band, may be higher than a corresponding satellite-only systemsince terrestrial frequency reuse may be much denser than that of thesatellite-only system. In fact, capacity may be enhanced where it may bemostly needed, i.e., in densely populated urban/industrial/commercialareas where the connectivity/signal(s) of a satellite-only system may beunreliable. As a result, a hybrid (satellite/terrestrial cellular)system that is configured to reuse terrestrially at least some of thefrequencies of the satellite band may become more economically viable,as it may be able to serve more effectively and reliably a largersubscriber base.

One example of terrestrial reuse of satellite band frequencies isdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,332 to the present inventor Karabinisentitled Satellite Telecommunications Repeaters and RetransmissionMethods, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety as if set forth fully herein. As describedtherein, satellite telecommunications repeaters are provided whichreceive, amplify, and locally retransmit to one or more radioterminal(s)downlink signals received at the satellite telecommunicationsrepeater(s) from a satellite and also receive, amplify and retransmit tothe satellite uplink signals received at the satellitetelecommunications repeater(s) from one or more radioterminal(s) therebyincreasing an effective downlink and uplink margin in the vicinity ofthe satellite telecommunications repeater(s) and allowing an increase inthe penetration of uplink and downlink signals into buildings, foliage,transportation vehicles, and other objects which can reduce link margin.Both portable and non-portable repeaters are provided. See the abstractof U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,332.

Satellite radioterminals for a satellite radioterminal system or methodhaving a terrestrial communications capability by terrestrially reusingat least some of the satellite frequency band and using substantiallythe same air interface for both terrestrial and satellite communicationsmay be more cost effective and/or aesthetically appealing than otheralternatives. Conventional dual band/dual mode radioterminalalternatives, such as the well known Thuraya, Iridium and/or Globalstardual mode satellite/terrestrial radioterminals, duplicate somecomponents (as a result of the different frequency bands and/or airinterface protocols that are used for satellite and terrestrialcommunications, respectively), which can lead to increased cost, sizeand/or weight of the radioterminal. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,560 to thepresent inventor Karabinis, entitled Satellite System Utilizing aPlurality of Air Interface Standards and Method Employing Same.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,057, to the present inventor Karabinis, and entitledSystems and Methods for Terrestrial Reuse of Cellular SatelliteFrequency Spectrum, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety as if set forth fully herein,describes that a satellite frequency can be reused terrestrially by anancillary terrestrial network even within the same satellite cell, usinginterference cancellation techniques. In particular, a system accordingto some embodiments of U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,057 includes a space-basedcomponent that is configured to receive wireless communications from afirst radiotelephone in a satellite footprint over a satelliteradiotelephone frequency band, and an ancillary terrestrial network thatis configured to receive wireless communications from a secondradiotelephone in the satellite footprint over the satelliteradiotelephone frequency band. The space-based component also receivesthe wireless communications from the second radiotelephone in thesatellite footprint over the satellite radiotelephone frequency band asinterference, along with the wireless communications that are receivedfrom the first radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over thesatellite radiotelephone frequency band. An interference reducer isresponsive to the space-based component and to the ancillary terrestrialnetwork that is configured to reduce the interference from the wirelesscommunications that are received by the space-based component from thefirst radiotelephone in the satellite footprint over the satelliteradiotelephone frequency band, using the wireless communications thatare received by the ancillary terrestrial network from the secondradiotelephone in the satellite footprint over the satelliteradiotelephone frequency band.

Satellite radioterminal communications systems and methods that mayemploy terrestrial reuse of satellite frequencies are also described inPublished U.S. Patent Application Nos. US 2003/0054760 to Karabinis,entitled Systems and Methods for Terrestrial Reuse of Cellular SatelliteFrequency Spectrum; US 2003/0054761 to Karabinis, entitled SpatialGuardbands for Terrestrial Reuse of Satellite Frequencies; US2003/0054814 to Karabinis et al., entitled Systems and Methods forMonitoring Terrestrially Reused Satellite Frequencies to ReducePotential Interference; US 2003/0073436 to Karabinis et al., entitledAdditional Systems and Methods for Monitoring Terrestrially ReusedSatellite Frequencies to Reduce Potential Interference; US 2003/0054762to Karabinis, entitled Multi-Band/Multi-Mode Satellite RadiotelephoneCommunications Systems and Methods; US 2003/0153267 to Karabinis,entitled Wireless Communications Systems and Methods UsingSatellite-Linked Remote Terminal Interface Subsystems; US 2003/0224785to Karabinis, entitled Systems and Methods for Reducing Satellite FeederLink Bandwidth/Carriers In Cellular Satellite Systems; US 2002/0041575to Karabinis et al., entitled Coordinated Satellite-TerrestrialFrequency Reuse; US 2002/0090942 to Karabinis et al., entitledIntegrated or Autonomous System and Method of Satellite-TerrestrialFrequency Reuse Using Signal Attenuation and/or Blockage, DynamicAssignment of Frequencies and/or Hysteresis; US 2003/0068978 toKarabinis et al., entitled Space-Based Network Architectures forSatellite Radiotelephone Systems; U.S. Pat. No. 6,785,543 to Karabinis,entitled Filters for Combined Radiotelephone/GPS Terminals; US2003/0153308 to Karabinis, entitled Staggered Sectorization forTerrestrial Reuse of Satellite Frequencies; and US 2003/0054815 toKarabinis, entitled Methods and Systems for Modifying Satellite AntennaCell Patterns In Response to Terrestrial Reuse of Satellite Frequencies,all of which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention, thedisclosures of all of which are hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entirety as if set forth fully herein.

Some satellite radioterminal communications systems and methods mayemploy satellites that use multiple bands for communications withradioterminals. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2003/0054762 to Karabinis, cited above, describes satelliteradioterminal systems and communications methods that include aspace-based component that is configured to communicate withradioterminals in a satellite footprint that is divided into satellitecells. The space-based component is configured to communicate with afirst radioterminal in a first satellite cell over a first frequencyband and/or a first air interface, and to communicate with a secondradioterminal in the first or a second satellite cell over a secondfrequency band and/or a second air interface. An ancillary terrestrialnetwork also is provided that is configured to communicate terrestriallywith the first radioterminal over substantially the first frequency bandand/or substantially the first air interface, and to communicateterrestrially with the second radioterminal over substantially thesecond frequency band and/or substantially the second air interface. Seethe Abstract of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2003/0054762.

SUMMARY

According to embodiments of the present invention, a radioterminal mayinclude a transceiver, a hand-held interface coupled to the transceiver,and an interlock coupled to the transceiver. The transceiver may beconfigured to transmit and receive wireless communications. Moreparticularly, the transceiver may be configured to transmit high powercommunications at a power and/or Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power(EIRP) that is greater than or equal to a high power threshold and/or ata maximum high power and/or EIRP level and to transmit low powercommunications at a power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to alow power threshold and/or at a maximum low power and/or EIRP level. Inaddition, the interlock may be configured to prevent the transceiverfrom transmitting high power communications at a power and/or EIRP thatis greater than or equal to the high power threshold when the hand-heldinterface is activated. In other embodiments, the interlock may beconfigured to allow the transceiver to transmit high powercommunications at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal tothe high power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated andis selectively used in a satellite push-to-send mode (i.e., Push-to-Talk(PTT)) and/or data mode. The low power threshold and the high powerthreshold may be a same power threshold, or the low power threshold maybe greater or less than the high power threshold.

More particularly, the hand-held interface may include a built-inspeaker configured to provide audio output corresponding to wirelesscommunications received by the transceiver when the hand-held interfaceis activated. The hand-held interface may also include a built-indisplay and/or keypad configured to provide data output and/or inputcorresponding to wireless communications received and/or to betransmitted by the transceiver. The interlock may also be configured toallow the transceiver to transmit low power communications at a powerand/or EIRP that is less than or equal to the low power threshold whenthe hand-held interface is activated.

More particularly, the transceiver may be configured to providespace-based communications and wireless terrestrial communications andto transmit high power communications at a power and/or EIRP that isgreater than or equal to the high power threshold for space-basedcommunications and to transmit low power communications at a powerand/or EIRP that is less than or equal to the low power threshold or totransmit high power communications at a power and/or EIRP that isgreater than or equal to the high power threshold for terrestrialcommunications. Moreover, the transceiver may include a low powertransmission amplifier configured to amplify the low powercommunications for transmission at a power and/or EIRP that is less thanor equal to the low power threshold and a high power transmissionamplifier configured to amplify the high power communications fortransmission at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to thehigh power threshold. Accordingly, the interlock may be configured todisable the high power transmission amplifier when the hand-heldinterface is activated. In some embodiments, the low power transmissionamplifier and the high power transmission amplifier may be the sameamplifier that is configured to include a low power transmission modeand a high power transmission mode.

In addition, a hands-free interface may be coupled to the transceiver,and the interlock may be further configured to enable the transceiver totransmit high power communications at a power and/or EIRP that isgreater than or equal to the high power threshold when the hands-freeinterface is activated. The hands-free interface, for example, mayinclude a coupling for a remote earpiece and/or speaker, and thecoupling for the remote earpiece and/or speaker may include a tetheredand/or an untethered coupling. In addition or in an alternative, thecoupling for the remote earpiece and/or speaker may include an interfacefor a cradle configured to receive the radioterminal and to couple theradioterminal to a remote loudspeaker. In another alternative, thehands-free interface may include a speakerphone interface. In otherembodiments, the hand-held interface and/or the radioterminal mayinclude an antenna comprising a radiating element that may beselectively positioned at a distance from the hand-held interface and/orradioterminal and the interlock may be configured to allow thetransceiver to transmit low power communications at a power and/or EIRPthat is less than or equal to the low power threshold or high powercommunications at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal tothe high power threshold when the radiating element is positioned atsubstantially a predetermined distance from the hand-held interfaceand/or radioterminal or positioned at a distance that is greater thanthe predetermined distance from the hand-held interface and/orradioterminal and low power communications at a power and/or EIRP thatis less than or equal to the low power threshold when the radiatingelement is positioned at a distance from the hand-held interface and/orradioterminal that is substantially less than the predetermineddistance.

An interface for a companion transmitting device may be provided whereinthe interface is configured to provide the high power communications tothe companion transmitting device to transmit the high powercommunications from the companion transmitting device at a power and/orEIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power threshold when thehand-held interface is activated. The interface comprises a wirelessinterface and/or a wired interface. The companion transmitting devicemay be configured to be attached and operatively coupled to thehand-held interface and/or radioterminal and may also be configured tobe selectively detachable from the hand-held interface and/orradioterminal and operatively coupled to the hand-held interface and/orradioterminal. In addition, a radioterminal antenna may be coupled tothe transceiver, and the companion device may include a companion deviceantenna. Moreover, a gain of the companion device antenna may be greaterthan a gain of the radioterminal antenna. In some embodiments, thecompanion device antenna is configured to radiate substantiallycircularly polarized electro-magnetic energy and the radioterminalantenna is configured to radiate in a polarization that is substantiallythe same or different compared to the polarization of electro-magneticenergy that is radiated by the companion device antenna. In addition orin an alternative, the transceiver may include a transmission amplifierinside the radioterminal, and the companion device may include atransmission amplifier outside the radioterminal that may be inside thecompanion device. Moreover, a power level, such as a maximum powerlevel, of the transmission amplifier outside the radioterminal that maybe inside the companion device may be greater than a power level, suchas a maximum power level, of the transmission amplifier inside theradioterminal.

A hands-free interface may also be coupled to the transceiver, and theinterlock may be configured to provide user notification to activate thehands-free interface responsive to a request to transmit high powercommunications when the hand-held interface is active. The interlock mayalso be configured to enable the transceiver to transmit high powercommunications at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal tothe high power threshold responsive to activation of the hands-freeinterface. In addition, the interlock may be configured to enable thetransceiver for a period of time after the request to transmit highpower communications and before activation of the hands-free interfacewhen the hand-held interface is activated.

An interface for a companion transmitting device may also be provided,and the interlock may be configured to provide user notification toactivate the interface for the companion transmitting device responsiveto a request to transmit high power communications when the hand-heldinterface is active. The interlock may also be configured to provide thehigh power communications through the interface to the companiontransmitting device to transmit the high power communications from thecompanion transmitting device responsive to activating the interface forthe companion transmitting device. The interlock may also be configuredto enable the transceiver for a period of time when the hand-heldinterface is activated after the request to transmit high powercommunications and before activation of the interface for the companiontransmitting device.

According to additional embodiments of the present invention, methodsmay be provided for operating a radioterminal including a transceiverconfigured to transmit high power communications at a power and/or EIRPthat is greater than or equal to a high power threshold and to transmitlow power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is less than orequal to a low power threshold, and including a hand-held interface.More particularly, the method may include allowing the transceiver totransmit low power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is lessthan or equal to the low power threshold when the hand-held interface isactivated. The transceiver may be prevented from transmitting high powercommunications at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal tothe high power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated. Thehand-held interface may include a built-in speaker configured to provideaudio output adjacent a user's ear corresponding to wirelesscommunications received by the transceiver when the hand-held interfaceis activated.

The transceiver may be configured to provide space-based communicationsand wireless terrestrial communications, and the transceiver may beconfigured to transmit high power communications at a power and/or EIRPthat is greater than or equal to the high power threshold forspace-based communications and to transmit low power communications at apower and/or EIRP that is less than or equal the low power threshold forterrestrial communications. The transceiver may include a low powertransmission amplifier configured to amplify the low powercommunications and a high power transmission amplifier configured toamplify the high power communications. Accordingly, preventing thetransceiver from transmitting high power communications when thehand-held interface is activated may include disabling the high powertransmission amplifier when the hand-held interface is activated.

The radioterminal may also include a hands-free interface coupled to thetransceiver, and the transceiver may be enabled to transmit high powercommunications at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal tothe high power threshold when the hands-free interface is activated. Thehands-free interface may include a coupling for a remote earpiece and/orspeaker, and/or a speakerphone interface. The radioterminal may alsoinclude an interface for a companion transmitting device and the highpower communications may be provided through the interface to thecompanion transmitting device to be transmitted by the companiontransmitting device at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equalto the high power threshold when the hand-held interface is activated.

The radioterminal may include a hands-free interface coupled to thetransceiver, and user notification to activate the hands-free interfacemay be provided responsive to a request to transmit high powercommunications when the hand-held interface is active. The transceivermay be enabled to transmit high power communications at a power and/orEIRP that is greater than or equal to the high power thresholdresponsive to activation of the hands-free interface. After the requestto transmit high power communications and before activation of thehands-free interface, the transceiver may also be enabled for a periodof time to transmit high power communications when the hand-heldinterface is active.

The radioterminal may include an interface for a companion transmittingdevice that may be remote from the radioterminal, and user notificationto activate the interface for the companion transmitting device may beprovided responsive to a request to transmit high power communicationswhen the hand-held interface is active. The high power communicationsmay be provided through the interface to the companion transmittingdevice to be transmitted from the companion transmitting deviceresponsive to activating the interface for the companion transmittingdevice. In addition, the transceiver may be enabled for a period of timewhen the hand-held interface is activated after the request to transmithigh power communications and before activation of the interface for thecompanion transmitting device.

According to still additional embodiments of the present invention, aradioterminal may include a transceiver, a hands-free interface, and asatellite/hands-free interlock. The transceiver may be configured forspace-based communications and for terrestrial wireless communications,and the satellite/hands-free interlock may be configured to prevent thetransceiver from transmitting space-based communications unless thehands-free interface is activated. The hands-free interface, forexample, may include a coupling for a remote earpiece and/or aspeakerphone interface.

In addition, a hand-held interface may be provided, and the interlockmay be further configured to prevent the transceiver from transmittingspace-based communications when the hand-held interface is activated.The hand-held interface, for example, may include a built in speakerconfigured to provide audio output adjacent a user's ear correspondingto wireless communications received by the transceiver when thehand-held interface is activated. Moreover, the satellite/hands-freeinterlock may be configured to provide user notification to activate thehands-free interface in response to a request to transmit space-basedcommunications when the hand-held interface is activated. Thesatellite/hands-free interlock may also be configured to enable thetransceiver for a period of time after the request to transmitspace-based communications without activation of the hands-freeinterface when the hand-held interface is activated. In addition, thesatellite/hands-free interlock may be configured to allow thetransceiver to transmit terrestrial communications when the hand-heldinterface is activated.

According to yet additional embodiments of the present invention,methods may be provided for operating a radioterminal including atransceiver configured for space-based communications and forterrestrial wireless communications, and including a hands-freeinterface. The method may include allowing the transceiver to transmitterrestrial communications when the hands-free interface is notactivated, and preventing the transceiver from transmitting space-basedcommunications unless the hands-free interface is activated. Forexample, the hands-free interface may include a coupling for a remoteearpiece and/or a speakerphone interface.

In addition, the transceiver may be prevented from transmittingspace-based communications when a hand-held interface is activated. Thehand-held interface, for example, may include a built in speakerconfigured to provide audio output corresponding to wirelesscommunications received by the transceiver when the hand-held interfaceis activated. Moreover, user notification to activate the hands-freeinterface may be provided in response to a request to transmitspace-based communications when the hand-held interface is activated. Inaddition, the transceiver may be enabled for a period of time after therequest to transmit space-based communications without activation of thehands-free interface when the hand-held interface is activated.Moreover, the transceiver may be allowed to transmit terrestrialcommunications when the hand-held interface is activated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating communications systems according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating radioterminals according toembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating operations of radioterminalsaccording to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating communications systems accordingto embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b are block diagrams illustrating radioterminals andcompanion devices according to additional embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are flow charts illustrating operations of radioterminalsaccording to still additional embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of theinvention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Likenumbers refer to like elements throughout.

It will be understood that although the terms first, second, third,fourth etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, theseelements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only usedto distinguish one element from another element. Thus, for example, afirst element below could be termed a second, third or fourth element,and similarly, a second element may be termed a first, third or fourthelement etc., without departing from the teachings of the presentinvention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The symbol“/” is also used as a shorthand notation for “and/or”. Moreover, as usedherein, “substantially the same” band(s) means that one or more bandsbeing discussed/compared substantially overlap, but that there may besome areas of non-overlap, for example, at a band end. Moreover,“substantially the same” air interface(s) means that two or more airinterfaces that are being discussed/compared are similar but need not beidentical. Some differences may exist between the two or more airinterfaces to account, for example, for different characteristics and/orQuality-of-Service (QoS) goals of two or more respective systems, suchas, for example, the different characteristic(s) and/or QoS goalsbetween terrestrial and satellite systems. For example, respectivedifferent vocoder rates may be used for satellite communications and forterrestrial communications (for example, a 13 or a 16 kbps vocoder ratemay be used for terrestrial communications and a 4 or a 2 kbps vocoderrate may be used for satellite communications). In addition, a differentforward error correction coding, a different interleaving depth, and/ordifferent spread spectrum codes (e.g. Walsh codes, long codes, and/orfrequency hopping codes) may be used for satellite communicationscompared to respective parameters/quantities/algorithms that may be usedfor terrestrial communications. Moreover, “substantially the same” bandsof frequencies means that the bands of frequencies being comparedinclude a common set of frequencies but some frequencies included in atleast one of the bands may be different (non-common). In general, “X andY are substantially the same” means that X and Y have/share a pluralityof identical and/or similar parameters and/or characteristics but X andY may differ in at least one parameter and/or characteristic.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being“connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directlyconnected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may bepresent. Furthermore, “connected” or “coupled” as used herein mayinclude wirelessly connected or coupled. The terminology used herein isfor the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is notintended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singularforms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms aswell, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understoodthat the terms “includes,” “comprises,” “including” and/or “comprising,”when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, butdo not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and thepresent disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overlyformal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of satellite radioterminal communicationssystems and methods according to embodiments of the present invention.As shown in FIG. 1, a Space-Based Network (SBN) includes one or moreSpace-Based Components (SBC), such as a satellite 110 that is configuredto communicate with a plurality of radioterminals 120 in a satellitefootprint 112. An Ancillary Terrestrial Network (ATN) that includes oneor more Ancillary Terrestrial Components (ATC) 130 is also configured tocommunicate with the radioterminals 120. The ancillary terrestrialnetwork may be geographically spaced apart from the satellite footprintand/or may be contained at least partially within the satellitefootprint 112. Communications between the satellite(s) 110 and theradioterminals 120 over a satellite forward link 111 and a satellitereturn link 114, and between the ancillary terrestrial component(s) 130and the radioterminals 120 over an ancillary terrestrial componentforward link 132 and an ancillary terrestrial component return link 134may be provided using substantially the same satellite frequency band(s)and/or substantially the same air interface(s), in some embodiments ofthe invention.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the space-based networkmay employ one or more satellites 110 which may have a relatively smalland, therefore, relatively low gain antenna. For example, approximatelya six meter diameter antenna, approximately a 9 meter diameter antennaor approximately a 12 meter diameter antenna may be provided on at leastone of the satellite(s) 110. As a consequence, the antenna gain and/orpower amplifier output level of the satellite/ATC radioterminal 120 maybe increased when the radioterminal 120 is communicating with thesatellite 110, relative to the antenna gain and/or power amplifieroutput level of the radioterminal 120 when the radioterminal iscommunicating with the ancillary terrestrial component 130. Thus, asshown in FIG. 1, the power level P1 transmitted on the satellite returnlink 114 may be increased to be greater than the power level P2transmitted on the ancillary terrestrial component return link 134.Stated differently, P1>P2. Since the radioterminal 120 may radiate at ahigher Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) in satellite moderelative to the radioterminal's EIRP in ATC mode, the radioterminal 120may not maintain a desired Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) criterion thatmay be dictated by a regulation and/or safety concern, when evaluated insatellite mode and in accordance with substantially the same operatingconfiguration as in ATC mode (i.e., being held next/proximate/adjacentand/or at a specified distance from a user's head).

Referring now to FIG. 2, some embodiments of the present invention canprovide a satellite/ATC radioterminal 120 that includes asatellite/hands-free interlock 126 that is configured to prevent atransceiver 124 and/or antenna 122 of the radioterminal 120 fromsubstantially transmitting in satellite mode unless a hands-freeinterface 128 of the radioterminal 120 is activated. As is well known tothose having skill in the art, a hands-free interface 128 can comprise atethered earpiece and microphone, a speakerphone interface, a cradleand/or any other conventional tethered and/or untethered hands-freeinterface. An untethered hands-free interface may use a Bluetooth, WiFi,WiMAX, infrared, ultraviolet and/or other wireless local area (and/orpersonal area) network communications technique over licensed and/orun-licensed frequencies.

Accordingly, in order to substantially reduce or eliminate theprobability that a user will communicate via the satellite 110 whileholding the radioterminal 120 in proximity of the user's ear, theradioterminal 120 may be configured such that when it is in thesatellite active mode and a communications channel has been allocated tothe radioterminal 120 by the satellite system, the radioterminal isrendered unable to substantially transmit unless a hands-free mode isactivated on the radioterminal 120.

It will be understood by those having skill in the art that theradioterminal 120 of FIG. 2 may also include other conventionalcomponents, including a data processor such as a microprocessor, adigital signal processor, radio frequency components, a man-machineinterface and/or other conventional components. The satellite/hands-freeinterlock 126 may be provided, for example, at least in part, by astored program running on a data processor that operates, for example,periodically or non-periodically and/or in response to interrupts, inresponse to the man-machine interface and/or at least one receivedsignal at the radioterminal and/or at least one transmitted signal bythe radioterminal. Combinations of software and/or other hardware alsomay be used to implement the satellite/hands-free interlock 126.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of operations that may be performed to provide asatellite/hands-free interlock, such as the satellite/hands-freeinterlock 126 of FIG. 2, according to various embodiments of the presentinvention. Referring to FIG. 3, a determination is made at Block 310 ifa satellite mode communications channel request has been made. Thesatellite mode request may be based on a user radioterminal request touse the satellite mode and/or a system request to use the satellite modeto initiate communications and/or to handover the user radioterminalfrom ATC mode and/or cellular/PCS mode to satellite mode.

Still referring to FIG. 3, if a satellite mode request is made at Block310, then at Block 320, a test is made as to whether hands-freeoperation of the radioterminal is active. Hands-free operation may bedetected at Block 320 by, for example, detecting that a tethered and/orun-tethered microphone and/or earpiece have been inserted into anappropriate jack/interface of the radioterminal and/or is/are wirelesslyoperatively connected to the radioterminal, detecting that theradioterminal has been placed in a cradle, detecting that a wired and/orwireless local area network (and/or personal area network) connectionhas been made with the radioterminal to enable a hands-free interfacewith the radioterminal and/or using other techniques for detecting useof a hands-free interface.

If hands-free operation is detected at Block 320, then satellite mode isentered at Block 330 and the radioterminal 120 is enabled to communicatewith the satellite 110 by transmitting to the satellite 110 at anappropriately high power and/or EIRP level and/or at a maximum highpower and/or EIRP level and/or at an appropriately high (or higher) datarate. Alternatively, if hands-free operation is not detected at Block320, a user notification may be provided at Block 340. This usernotification may be in the form of an audible signal, a signal that maybe sensed by a part of a human body that is in contact with theradioterminal (such as a vibration signal) and/or a visual displaysignal and/or any other type of notification that may be perceptible bya human with or without non-human sensory enhancements. Usernotifications for various other purposes are well known to those havingskill in the art, so that the design of the user notification of Block340 need not be described in detail herein. After user notification, atest may again be made at Block 320 as to whether hands-free operationis present. Alternatively, the test at Block 320 may not be made againand the satellite mode request at Block 310 may simply be denied. Instill other embodiments, user notification of Block 340 may not beperformed, and the satellite mode request at Block 310 may simply bedenied. In still other embodiments, satellite communications may beprovided by the radioterminal and/or by the system for a predeterminedinterval of time following the satellite mode request even though theradioterminal is not operative in a hands-free mode. During thepredetermined interval of time the user may be notified at least once bythe radioterminal to enable a hands-free mode. If the radioterminal isplaced in hands-free mode during the predetermined interval of time,satellite communications may continue uninterrupted. If theradioterminal is not placed in hands-free mode during the predeterminedinterval of time, satellite communications may be interrupted.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a portion of a radioterminal, such as aradioterminal 120 of FIGS. 1 and 2, and a portion of an ATC, such as anATC 130 of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 4, the radioterminal 120 mayinclude a satellite/ATC radioterminal transceiver 410 which may beintegrated in at least some satellite and ATC functionality and maycorrespond to the transceiver 124 and satellite/hands-free interlock 126of FIG. 2. A transmit/receive (TX/RX) selector 418 couples a poweramplifier 414 or a low noise amplifier 412 to an antenna 422, which maycorrespond to the antenna 122 of FIG. 2. Thus, the radioterminal 120 mayinclude a single power amplifier 414 and/or a single antenna 422 thatis/are sized for communications with the space segment includingsatellite 110. As such, the radioterminal's power amplifier output levelmay be limited to less than a maximum value when the radioterminal iscommunicating with the ATC 130. For example, the power amplifier 414 maybe limited to transmit about 200 to 250 mW of maximum power whencommunicating with a CDMA-based terrestrial system (such as a cdma2000terrestrial system), and about 600 mW to about one Watt of maximum powerwhen communicating with a GSM-based terrestrial system (where onemW≡10⁻³ Watt). In a satellite mode, the power amplifier 414 may beconfigured to transmit more than one Watt of maximum power to thesatellite 110. In some embodiments, the power amplifier 414 isconfigured not to output a higher power for space-based networkcommunications unless the control signal 416 is activated. The controlsignal 416 may not be activated unless the satellite/ATC radioterminaltransceiver 410 detects hands-free operation, for example by detectingthat a tether 424 is connected to the radioterminal 120, so as to couplea tethered microphone 426 and tethered earpiece 428 to the radioterminal120.

Still continuing with the description of FIG. 4, at the ATC 130, a poweramplifier 438 couples a transmit antenna 444 to an ATC transceiver 432,and a low noise amplifier 434 couples a receive antenna 442 to the ATCtransceiver 432. In order to increase the receiver sensitivity of theATC, the receiver front end electronics, such as the low noise amplifier434 and/or other elements of the ATC 130 may be cryogenically cooled byencapsulating these elements in a cryogenically cooled capsule 436. Thedesign of cryogenically cooled amplifiers and/or other components iswell known to those having skill in the art and need not be describedfurther herein. Cryogenic cooling can increase the available return linkmargin provided by the ATC for a given radioterminal EIRP and a givenconfiguration of the ATC receiver antenna 442. The increase in availablereturn link margin may be used by the ATC to reduce a radioterminalpower and/or EIRP, which can thereby reduce the potential of intra-and/or intersystem interference and also extend a battery life of theradioterminal and/or increase a radius of a service region of the ATC130.

Cryogenic cooling may also be provided at satellite 110 of a space basednetwork. A transceiver structure of the satellite 110 may be similar tothat discussed above with respect to the ATC 130 with a low noiseamplifier coupling a satellite receive antenna to a satellitetransceiver. To increase the receiver sensitivity of the satellite, thesatellite receiver front end electronics, such as the satellite lownoise amplifier and/or other elements of the satellite 110 may becryogenically cooled by encapsulating these elements in a cryogenicallycooled capsule at the satellite 110. The design of cryogenically cooledamplifiers and/or other components is well known to those having skillin the art and need not be described further herein. Cryogenic coolingcan increase the available return link margin provided by the satellitefor a given radioterminal EIRP and a given configuration of thesatellite receiver antenna.

The increase in available return link margin may be used by thesatellite to reduce a radioterminal power and/or EIRP, which can therebyreduce the potential of intra- and/or intersystem interference andextend a battery life of the radioterminal.

FIG. 5 a is a block diagram illustrating radioterminals according tostill additional embodiments of the present invention. The radioterminalof FIG. 5 a may include a processor 510, a wireless interface 512, anaccessory jack 514, a companion device jack/interface 516, a speaker518, a microphone 520, and a transceiver 521, and an antenna 524. Moreparticularly, the transceiver 521 may include a transmit/receive (TX/RX)selector 522, a low noise amplifier 524 for reception, and a poweramplifier 526 for transmission. Moreover, the accessory jack 514 mayprovide a detachable wired coupling for a tether connected to a tetheredmicrophone and a tethered earpiece (such as tether 424, microphone 426,and earpiece 428 illustrated in FIG. 4). In addition or in analternative, the wireless interface 512 (such as a Bluetooth, WiFi, orother wireless interface) may provide a wireless coupling with a remotemicrophone and earpiece, for example, using a wireless local areanetwork and/or personal area network such as Bluetooth, WiFi, and/orother network communications techniques. Accordingly, voicecommunications may be provided in a hand-held mode using built-inspeaker 518 and microphone 520, or in a hands-free mode such as using aremote microphone and earpiece (via either accessory jack 514 orwireless interface 512), using a speakerphone interface, using a cradle,and/or using any other hands-free interface.

In still other alternatives discussed in greater detail below withrespect to FIG. 5 b, voice communications may be provided in a hand-heldmode using built-in speaker 518 and microphone 520 and using atransceiver and antenna of a companion device, which may be operative ata distance from the radioterminal, coupled through wireless interface512 or through a wired companion device jack/interface 516. Accordingly,hand-held voice communications may be provided by the radioterminal 120′with relatively high power transmissions being performed using anamplifier and/or antenna of a companion device remote from the user'shead. Accordingly, an interlock function of the processor 510 may blocktransmissions above a threshold power level (such as transmissions overa return link to satellite 110) using transceiver 521 and antenna 524unless the radioterminal is operated in a hands-free mode (i.e. using aremote tethered microphone/earpiece, using a remote wirelessmicrophone/earpiece, using a speaker phone mode of operation, using acradle, and/or using any other conventional tethered or untetheredhands-free interface). In addition or in an alternative, an interlockfunction of the processor 510 may allow voice communications in ahand-held mode using built-in speaker 518 and microphone 520 withtransmissions above the threshold (such as transmissions over a returnlink to satellite 110) being provided using an amplifier and/or antennaof a companion device and/or an antenna and amplifier of theradioterminal, such as antenna 524 and amplifier 526 of theradioterminal, provided that the antenna 524 of the radioterminal and/orone or more radiating element(s) thereof is/are permanently orselectively positioned/configured at an orientation relative to theradioterminal that is at a distance from the radioterminal and/or auser's head when the user is using the radioterminal in a conventionalhand-held mode (adjacent to the user's ear).

FIG. 5 b is a block diagram illustrating a companion device 600according to embodiments of the present invention. The companion deviceof FIG. 5 b may include a transceiver 612, an antenna 614, and aradioterminal coupling 616. More particularly, the transceiver 612 mayinclude a transmit/receive (TX/RX) selector 622, a low noise amplifier624 for reception, and a power amplifier 626 for transmission. Moreover,the radiotelephone coupling 616 may provide a wired and/or a wirelesscoupling with the radioterminal 120′. The radiotelephone coupling 616,for example, may provide a wired coupling with the companion device jack516 of the radioterminal 120′ and/or a wireless coupling with thewireless interface 512, processor 510 and/or the transceiver 521 of theradioterminal 120′. With a power amplifier 626, a low noise amplifier624, and a transmit/receive switch 622, the companion device 600 mayprovide both transmit and receive functionalities. The transceiver 612and/or other element(s) of the companion device 600 may also includeother conventional transmit/receive functions (such as modulation,demodulation, error correction encoding/decoding, interleaving, frameformatting, data regeneration and/or filtering functions; not shown inFIG. 5 b) that may be required to process signals transmitted and/orreceived from antenna 614 and/or radioterminal coupling 616. Thecompanion device 600 and radioterminal 120′ may be further configured toallow the companion device 600 to be selectively attached to theradioterminal 120′ such that the companion device 600 and radioterminal120′ appear as one device and to be selectively detached from theradioterminal 600 such that the companion device 600 and radioterminal120′ appear as two separate devices. The companion device 600 andradioterminal 120′ may be further configured to be operativelyfunctional in the attached and/or detached configuration. In someembodiments, the companion device 600 may be configured to providetransmit functionality without providing receive functionality so thatthe low noise (receive) amplifier 624 and the transmit/receive switch622 may be omitted from the companion device 600. For example,relatively high power transmissions may be provided using the antenna614 of the companion device 600 while reception is provided using thebuilt-in antenna 524 and transceiver 521 of the radioterminal 120′.

Accordingly, the radioterminal 120′ may provide functionalities asdiscussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-4. More particularly, interlockoperations of the processor 510 may block transmission above a thresholdpower level (such as transmissions over a return link to satellite 110)using built-in transceiver 521 if the radioterminal is providing voicecommunications in a hand-held mode using built-in speaker 518 andmicrophone 520. Interlock operations of the processor 510 may thus allowtransmission above the threshold power level using built-in transceiver521 if the radioterminal is providing voice communications in ahands-free mode, for example, using a tethered remote microphone andearpiece, using a wireless remote microphone and earpiece, using aspeakerphone interface, using a cradle, and/or using any otherhands-free interface. The threshold power level may be fixed, based onpower levels of radiotelephone transmissions for satellite andterrestrial communications or based on a maximum level of power deemedappropriate for transmission adjacent a user's head when theradiotelephone is used in a hand-held mode. In alternatives, thethreshold power level may be variable depending on changes in satelliteand/or terrestrial power control levels, a length of time the user is onthe phone, and/or other factors.

In addition, the interlock operations of the processor 510 may allowvoice communications in a hand-held mode using built-in speaker 518 andmicrophone 520 with transmission above the threshold power level if thecompanion device 600 is coupled to the radioterminal 120′, for example,using wireless interface 512 or using wired companion devicejack/interface 516. Transmissions above the threshold power level maythus be provided using the power amplifier 626 and the antenna 614 ofthe companion device 600 remote from the user's head. The companiondevice 600 may be a portable device configured to be carried, forexample, in a user's pocket, bag, purse, etc. In another alternative,the companion device may be built into an automobile to provide improvedcommunications links when the radioterminal is being used (and possiblyshielded) inside the automobile.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the poweramplifier 626 and/or the antenna 614 of the companion device 600 mayprovide higher gain(s) than the power amplifier 526 and antenna 524 ofthe radioterminal 120′. By way of example, the antenna 524 of theradiotelephone 120′ may provide a gain of approximately −2 dBi, and theantenna 614 of the companion device 600 may provide a gain ofapproximately +2 dBi to provide a 4 dB increase in gain whentransmitting using the companion device 600 as opposed to transmittingusing the built-in antenna 524. Furthermore, the companion deviceantenna 614 may be a substantially Circularly Polarized (CP) antenna andthe radioterminal antenna 524 may be a substantially Linearly Polarized(LP) antenna. In addition or in an alternative, the power amplifier 526of the radioterminal 120′ may be a ¼ watt amplifier, and the poweramplifier 626 of the companion device 600 may be a 1 watt amplifier toprovide a 4 dB increase in gain when transmitting using the companiondevice 600. Using both the antennas and the power amplifiers discussedabove, for example, an increase of 8 dB in gain may be provided whenusing the companion device for transmission as opposed to using thebuilt-in power amplifier 526 and antenna 524. In general, highertransmission powers and/or higher antenna gains may be provided by thecompanion device 600 (relative to the radioterminal 120′) because thecompanion device 600 may have fewer size constraints, because thecompanion device 600 may have fewer power constraints, and/or becausethe companion device 600 is not intended for use adjacent a user's head.

According to other embodiments of the present invention, the poweramplifier 526 of the radioterminal 120′ may include a low powermode/power amplifier for relatively low power transmissions below athreshold (such as transmissions to ATC 130), and a high powermode/power amplifier for relatively high power transmissions above athreshold (such as transmissions to the satellite 110). Moreover,interlock operations of the processor 510 may be configured to disablethe high power mode/power amplifier when operating in a hand-held modeusing built-in speaker 518 and microphone 520 unless the antenna 524 ofradioterminal 120′ has selectively been positioned substantially in apredetermined second orientation and is not positioned substantially ina predetermined first orientation or in any other orientation/positionand/or the radioterminal is being used in a push-to-send (push-to-talk)mode. In accordance with some embodiments, the radioterminal antenna 524may be selectively positioned in a first predetermined orientationwherein the antenna 524 is maximally pushed-in and/or inserted in theradioterminal 120′ so as to maintain a minimal (low) profile and thepredetermined second selective orientation is an orientation wherein theantenna 524 is maximally pulled-out of the radioterminal 120′ so as tomaintain a maximum (high) profile. The radioterminal antenna 524 may beconfigured with a radiating element (or elements) positioned atsubstantially an upper section/portion of the antenna so as to maintaina predetermined minimum distance between the radiating element (orelements) and a user's head when the radioterminal antenna 524 ispositioned in the predetermined second orientation and the user is usingthe radioterminal 120′ next/adjacent to the head/ear. The radiatingelement (or elements) of the radioterminal antenna 524 may include asubstantially CP radiating element (or elements) and/or a substantiallyLP radiating element (or elements). Interlock operations of theprocessor 510 may be configured to enable the high power mode/poweramplifier of amplifier 526 of radioterminal 120′ when the radioterminal120′ is operating in a mode wherein the antenna 524 of the radioterminal120′ is selectively positioned substantially in the predetermined secondorientation and is not positioned substantially in the predeterminedfirst orientation or in any other orientation/position and/or theradioterminal is being used in a push-to-send (push-to-talk) mode and/orin a hands-free mode, for example, using a tethered or untetheredearpiece and microphone, using a speaker phone mode, using a cradle,and/or using any other hands-free interface. Accordingly, relatively lowpower transmissions (below a threshold) using the low power mode/poweramplifier of amplifier 526 may be provided when the radioterminal 120′is being used in a non-push-to-send (non-push-to-talk) hand-held modeand the radioterminal antenna 524 is selectively positioned insubstantially the first predetermined orientation or relatively lowpower transmissions (below a threshold) using the low power mode/poweramplifier of amplifier 526 may be provided when the radioterminal 120′is being used in a non-push-to-send (non-push-to-talk) hand-held modeand the radioterminal antenna 524 is of the type that is not configuredto provide selectivity in orientation and is permanently configured inone orientation that is the same or substantially the same as the firstpredetermined selective orientation described above. In someembodiments, the radioterminal amplifier 526 is an amplifier that isconfigured to provide only one power mode, such as, for example, a lowpower mode that may be used only for low power communications such as,for example, communications with ATC 130. In contrast, relatively highpower transmissions (above a threshold) using the high power mode/poweramplifier of radioterminal amplifier 526 may be allowed only whenoperating in a push-to-send (or push-to-talk) mode and/or theradioterminal antenna 524 is selectively positioned in the secondpredetermined orientation (or the radioterminal antenna 524 is of a typethat is configured to be permanently positioned in an orientation thatis the same or substantially the same as the second predeterminedorientation) and/or the radioterminal is operating in a hands-free mode.More particularly, relatively high power transmissions (above athreshold) using the high power mode/power amplifier of theradioterminal amplifier 526 may be blocked when the radioterminal isoperating in a non-speakerphone-enabled hand-held mode and/or theradioterminal antenna 524 is selectively positioned in the firstpredetermined orientation (or the radioterminal antenna 524 is of a typethat is configured to be permanently positioned in an orientation thatis the same or substantially the same as the first predeterminedorientation).

Accordingly, in order to substantially reduce or eliminate theprobability that a user will communicate using the built-in transceiver521 and antenna 524 at transmission power(s) exceeding a threshold (suchas when communicating via the satellite 110) when holding theradioterminal 120′ in proximity of the ear, the radioterminal 120′ maybe configured such that when a relatively high power transmission modeis to be used, the built-in transceiver is rendered unable tosubstantially transmit a power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equalto a predetermined high power threshold unless a hands-free mode isactivated on the radioterminal 120′ or the radioterminal 120′ is used ina speakerphone mode (i.e., push-to-send or push-to-talk mode or anyother speakerphone mode) and/or the radioterminal antenna 524 isselectively positioned in the second predetermined orientation (or theradioterminal antenna 524 is of a type that is configured to bepermanently positioned in an orientation that is the same orsubstantially the same as the second predetermined orientation). Arelatively high power transmission mode may thus be used if a hands-freemode is activated, the radioterminal 120′ is used in a speakerphone mode(i.e., push-to-send or push-to-talk mode or any other speakerphonemode), the radioterminal antenna 524 is selectively positioned in thesecond predetermined orientation (or the radioterminal antenna 524 is ofa type that is configured to be permanently positioned in an orientationthat is the same or substantially the same as the second predeterminedorientation) and/or if the companion device 600 is coupled to theradioterminal 120′ so that transmission is remote from the radioterminal120′ and remote from the user' head. For example, activation of ahands-free mode, a predetermined selective position/orientation of theradioterminal antenna (or a particular permanent position/orientation ofthe radioterminal antenna), a speakerphone mode and/or use of thecompanion device 600 may be required to provide relatively high power(above the threshold) transmissions over a return link, such as, forexample a return link to the satellite 110.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the termhand-held interface may refer to an ear-adjacent interface wherein audiooutput is provided from a built-in speaker of the radioterminal with thebuilt-in speaker of the radioterminal (and the radioterminal) beingplaced next/adjacent to the head/ear of the user during communications,and the term hands-free interface may refer to any ear-remote interfaceallowing the radioterminal to be spaced apart from the head/ear of theuser during communications. A hand-held and/or ear adjacent interface,for example, may be provided by a built-in speaker in the radiotelephoneproviding audio output (corresponding to received wirelesscommunications) at an appropriate volume for use with the built-inspeaker and radiotelephone placed next/adjacent to the user's head/ear.A hands-free and/or ear-remote interface, for example, may be anyinterface allowing use of the radioterminal spaced apart from the user'shead/ear during wireless communications. A hands-free and/or ear-remoteinterface, for example, may include a speakerphone interface and/or aninterface for a remote (tethered and/or untethered) earpiece, so thataudio output (corresponding to received wireless communications) may beprovided without providing the radiotelephone next/adjacent to theuser's head/ear during communications. More particularly, a speakerphoneinterface may include a built-in speaker in the radiotelephoneconfigured to provide audio output (corresponding to received wirelesscommunications) at an appropriate volume for use with the built-inspeaker and radiotelephone spaced apart from the users head/ear, and asame built-in speaker may be used for hand-held/ear-adjacent andhands-free/ear-remote interfaces depending on a volume at which it isdriven, or different built-in speakers may be used forhand-held/ear-adjacent and hands-free/ear-remote interfaces. Moreover, aspeakerphone interface may include an interface for a cradle configuredto receive the radioterminal and to couple the radioterminal to a remoteloudspeaker; a wireless interface configured to couple the radioterminalto a remote loudspeaker; and/or a built-in speaker (in theradioterminal) configured to provide audio output (corresponding toreceived wireless communications) at a volume for use with the built-inspeaker and radioterminal spaced apart from the user's head/ear, forexample, during push-to-talk operations, push-to-transmit operations,and/or walkie-talkie operations. In addition, a hands-free and/orear-remote interface may include a data interface (such as a displayscreen) providing a graphic output to be viewed with the radioterminalspaced apart from the user's head/ear.

It will be understood by those having skill in the art that theprocessor 510 may be a data processor including one or moremicroprocessors and/or digital signal processors. It will be furtherunderstood that the radioterminal 120′ may include radio frequencycomponents, man-machine interface components, and/or other conventionalcomponents in addition to those components specifically illustrated.Satellite/hands-free/companion-device interlock operations may beprovided, at least in part, by a stored program running on the processor510 that operates in response to man-machine interface components, otherinterface components, a signal transmitted by the radioterminal 120′and/or a signal received by the radioterminal 120′. Combinations ofsoftware and/or other hardware also may be used to implementsatellite/hands-free/companion-device interlock operations.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating operations that may be performed toprovide a satellite/hands-free interlock for the radioterminal 120′ usedwith a companion device 600 of FIGS. 5 a and 5 b according to variousembodiments of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, adetermination may be made at block 651 if there has been a request forhigh power transmissions, such as transmissions to satellite 110. Highpower transmissions may refer to transmissions above a threshold powerand/or EIRP level. For example, transmissions over a return link tosatellite 110 may be at or above the threshold power and/or EIRP level,and transmissions over a return link to ATC 130 may be at or below thethreshold power and/or EIRP level. The threshold power and/or EIRP levelmay be a SAR threshold power and/or EIRP level. According to someembodiments, any request for transmission to a satellite may be arequest for high power and/or high EIRP transmissions, and any requestfor transmissions to an ATC may be a request for low power and/or lowEIRP transmissions. According to other embodiments, some requests fortransmissions to a relatively distant ATC may be requests for high powerand/or high EIRP transmissions. A high power and/or high EIRP transmitrequest may be based on a user radioterminal request to use thesatellite mode; a system request to use the satellite mode; a systemrequest to hand the user radioterminal over from an ATC mode and/orcellular/PCS mode to a satellite mode; a system request to increasetransmission power to an ATC and/or cellular/PCS base station (forexample, if the radioterminal moves sufficiently far from an ATC);and/or a system and/or user radioterminal request to establishcommunications using a relatively distant ATC and/or cellular/PCS basestation.

If a high power and/or high EIRP transmission mode is requested at block651, a test may be made as to whether a companion device is available toprovide companion device transmitter operations at block 653.Availability of a companion device may be detected by attempting toestablish a communications link (for example, using wireless interface512 and/or companion device jack/interface 516) with the companiondevice.

If a companion device is available at block 653, then the high powerand/or high EIRP transmission mode may be entered at block 657, and theradioterminal may communicate with relatively high power and/or highEIRP transmissions using a power amplifier and/or antenna of a companiondevice. More particularly, the high power and/or high EIRP transmissionmode may be entered at block 657 for communication with satellite 110though the companion device. In alternatives, the high power and/or highEIRP transmission mode may be entered at block 657 for communicationwith a relatively distant ATC and/or cellular/PCS base station throughthe companion device.

Alternately, if a companion device is not detected at block 653, a usernotification may be provided at block 655. This user notification may bein the form of an audible signal (for example, using speaker 518) and/ora visual signal (for example, using display 527), and/or using any othertype of notification that is perceptible by a human with or withoutnon-human sensory enhancements. User notifications for various otherpurposes are well known to those having skill in the art, so that thedesign of the user notification of block 655 need not be described indetail herein.

After user notification, a test may again be made at block 653 as towhether a companion device is available. A user of the radioterminal maythen be allowed some period of time to provide coupling with an activecompanion device before a subsequent test at block 653 to determine if acompanion device is available. If a companion device is made available,the high power and/or high EIRP transmission mode may be entered atblock 657 so that the radioterminal may communicate with relatively highpower and/or high EIRP communications using a power amplifier and/orantenna of the companion device. If the companion device is not madeavailable during the allowed period of time, the request for high powerand/or high EIRP transmission may be denied.

Alternately, the test at block 653 may be performed only once, and therequest for high power and/or high EIRP transmission may simply bedenied if a companion device is not immediately available. In stillother embodiments, user notification of block 655 may not be performed,and the request for high power and/or high EIRP transmission may bedenied. In yet other embodiments, high power and/or high EIRPtransmission may be provided by the radioterminal transceiver 521 for apredetermined interval of time following the request for high powerand/or high EIRP transmission when a companion device is not immediatelyavailable. During the predetermined interval of time, the user may benotified at least once by the radioterminal to provide a coupling with acompanion device and/or to provide a predetermined position/orientationof the radioterminal antenna 524. If a companion device and/or thepredetermined position/orientation of the radioterminal antenna isprovided within the predetermined interval of time, high power and/orhigh EIRP transmissions may continue uninterrupted. If a companiondevice and/or the predetermined position/orientation of theradioterminal antenna is not provided during the predetermined intervalof time, high power and/or high EIRP transmission may be interruptedand/or terminated.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating operations that may be performed toprovide a satellite/hands-free interlock for the radioterminal 120′ usedwith a companion device 600 of FIGS. 5 a and 5 b according to variousadditional embodiments of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7, adetermination may be made at block 751 if there has been a request forhigh power and/or high EIRP transmission, such as a request fortransmission to satellite 110. High power and/or high EIRP transmissionsmay refer to transmissions above a threshold power and/or EIRP level.For example, transmissions over a return link to satellite 110 may beabove the threshold power and/or EIRP level, and transmissions over areturn link to ATC 130 may be below the threshold power and/or EIRPlevel. According to some embodiments, any request for transmission to asatellite may be a request for high power and/or high EIRPtransmissions, and any request for transmissions to an ATC and/orcellular PCS base station may be a request for low power and/or low EIRPtransmissions. According to other embodiments, some requests fortransmissions to a relatively distant ATC and/or cellular/PCS basestation may be requests for high power and/or high EIRP transmissions. Ahigh power and/or high EIRP transmit request may be based on a userradioterminal request to use the satellite mode; a system request to usethe satellite mode; a system request to hand the user radioterminal overfrom an ATC mode and/or cellular/PCS mode to a satellite mode; a systemrequest to increase transmission power to an ATC (for example, if theradioterminal moves sufficiently far from the ATC); and/or a systemand/or user radioterminal request to establish communications using arelatively distant ATC and/or cellular/PCS base station.

If a high power and/or high EIRP transmission mode is requested at block751, a test may be made as to whether hands-free operation of theradioterminal is active at block 753. Hands-free operation may bedetected at block 753, for example, by detecting that a tetheredmicrophone and earpiece have been inserted into an appropriatejack/interface of the radioterminal, by detecting that a wired and/orwireless local area network (and/or personal area network) connectionhas been made and/or using other techniques for detecting use of ahands-free interface. If hands-free operation is detected at block 753,then a high power and/or high EIRP transmission mode may be entered atblock 759 with high power and/or high EIRP transmission being providedusing a built-in transceiver and antenna of the radioterminal.

If hands-free operation is not detected at block 753, a test may be madeas to whether a companion device is available to provide companiondevice transmitter operations at block 755. Availability of a companiondevice may be detected by attempting to establish a communications link(for example, using wireless interface 512 and/or companion devicejack/interface 516) with the companion device.

If a companion device is available at block 755, then the high powerand/or high EIRP transmission mode may be entered at block 759 so thatthe radioterminal may communicate with relatively high power and/or highEIRP transmissions using a power amplifier and/or antenna of thecompanion device. More particularly, the high power and/or high EIRPtransmission mode may be entered at block 759 for communication with,for example, satellite 110 though the companion device. In alternatives,the high power and/or high EIRP transmission mode may be entered atblock 759 for communication with a relatively distant ATC and/orcellular/PCS base station through the companion device.

Alternately, if hands-free operation is not detected at block 753 and acompanion device is not detected at block 755, a user notification maybe provided at block 757. The user notification may also be provided atblock 757 in response to not detecting a hands-free operation at block753 and before attempting to detect a companion device at block 755 (orconcurrently with attempting to detect a companion device at block 755).This user notification may be in the form of an audible signal (forexample, using speaker 518 and/or any other radioterminal component thatmay produce an audible signal) and/or a visual signal (for example,using display 527), and/or using any other type of notification that isperceptible by a human with or without non-human sensory enhancements.User notifications for various other purposes are well known to thosehaving skill in the art, so that the design of the user notification ofblock 757 need not be described in detail herein.

After user notification and a delay, tests may again be made at blocks753 and 755 as to whether hands-free operation and/or a companion deviceis/are detected. A user of the radioterminal may thus be allowed someperiod of time to provide hands-free operation and/or to provide acompanion device before a subsequent test(s) is/are made at block 753and/or 755 to determine whether hands-free operation and/or a companiondevice is detected. If hands-free operation and/or a companion device ismade available, the high power and/or high EIRP transmission mode may beentered at block 659 so that the radioterminal may communicate withrelatively high power and/or high EIRP transmissions using a built-intransceiver and antenna in a hands-free mode of operation and/or using apower amplifier and/or antenna of the companion device in a hands-freeor hand-held mode of operation. If a hands-free mode of operation or acompanion device is not made available during an allowed and/orpredetermined period of time, the request for high power and/or highEIRP transmission may be denied. In some embodiments, the allowed and/orpredetermined period of time may be a priori programmed into theradioterminal, may be determined by the system and transmitted to theradioterminal and/or may depend on a power and/or EIRP level of theradioterminal.

Alternately, the tests at blocks 753 and/or 755 may be performed onlyonce, and the request for high power and/or high EIRP transmission maysimply be denied if hands-free operation and/or a companion device isnot immediately available. In still other embodiments, user notificationof block 757 may not be performed, and the request for high power and/orhigh EIRP transmission may be denied. In yet other embodiments, highpower and/or high EIRP transmission may be provided by the radioterminaltransceiver 521 for an interval of time following the request for highpower and/or high EIRP transmission even though neither hands-freeoperation or a companion device is available. During the interval oftime, the user may be notified at least once by the radioterminal toprovide hands-free operation and/or a coupling with a companion device.If hands-free operation and/or a companion device is provided within theinterval of time, high power and/or high EIRP transmissions may continueuninterrupted. If hands-free operation and/or a companion device is notprovided during the interval of time, high power and/or high EIRPtransmission may be interrupted and/or terminated.

While the flow chart of FIG. 7 shows that a test to detect hands-freeoperation at block 753 may precede a test to detect a companion deviceat block 755, an order of these tests may be reversed and/or the testsmay be performed at substantially the same time. For example, both testsmay be performed consecutively or at substantially the same time, and ifthe radioterminal is operating in a hands-free mode of operation and acompanion device is available, the radioterminal may enter a high powerand/or high EIRP transmission mode at block 759 using either a built-intransceiver and antenna and/or a power amplifier and antenna of thecompanion device. For example, the radioterminal may preferentiallyselect to use the power amplifier and antenna of the companion devicebecause a higher power and/or EIRP may be available. If a high powerand/or high EIRP transmission mode is initially entered at block 759using a built-in transceiver and antenna with the radioterminal beingoperated in a hands-free mode, the radioterminal may subsequently switchto a high power and/or high EIRP transmission mode using a poweramplifier and antenna of a companion device when the companion device issubsequently coupled (either wired or wirelessly) with the radioterminalor the radioterminal may continue to use the built-in transceiver 521and antenna 524 of the radioterminal and the transceiver 612 and antenna614 of the companion device.

Moreover, separate notification operations may be provided if eitherhands-free operation is not available at block 753 and/or if companiondevice transmitter operation is not available at block 755. For example,user notification may be provided if hands-free operation is notavailable at block 753 before determining if companion devicetransmitter operation is available at block 755, and a second usernotification may be provided at block 757 if companion devicetransmitter operation is not available. Separate user notificationoperations may be similarly provided if an order of operations of blocks755 and 757 is reversed and/or provided simultaneously.

In other embodiments, hands-free operation of a radioterminal and/oroperation of a companion device may not be necessary and the flow chartof FIG. 6 and/or FIG. 7 may not be used if the radioterminal isconfigured to operate in speakerphone mode (i.e., walkie-talkie mode,push-to-talk mode and/or any other mode that does not allow or requirethe user to operate the radioterminal adjacent to an ear) whencommunicating at a power and/or EIRP level that exceeds or equals athreshold.

In further embodiments, hands-free operation of a radioterminal and/oroperation of a companion device may not be necessary and the flow chartof FIG. 6 and/or FIG. 7 may not be used if the radioterminal isconfigured with an appropriately positioned/oriented antenna (that iseither permanently appropriately positioned/oriented or configured to beappropriately positioned/oriented selectively by a user of theradioterminal) that maintains a minimum distance between a radiatingelement (or elements) of the antenna and the user's head when the useris communicating with the radioterminal adjacent to an ear. It will beunderstood that a radioterminal that is configured with an antenna thatmay be appropriately selectively positioned/oriented by a user mayprovide a notification to the user, by using a flow charttechnique/methodology similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6 and/or FIG.7, to notify the user of a communications mode of the radioterminal thatrequires an appropriately selectively positioned/oriented antenna stateif the antenna of the radioterminal is not substantially appropriatelypositioned/oriented in the appropriate position/orientation state thatis required by the communications mode of the radioterminal. In analternate or in addition to providing a notification to the user of theradioterminal of a communications mode of the radioterminal thatrequires an appropriately selectively positioned/oriented antenna stateif the antenna of the radioterminal is not substantially appropriatelypositioned/oriented in the appropriate position/orientation state thatis required by the communications mode of the radioterminal anotification may also be provided to the user to configure the hand-heldinterface of the radioterminal in speakerphone mode and/or push-to-talkmode thereby increasing a distance between an antenna radiating elementof the antenna of the radioterminal and the user's head.

In some embodiments, the radioterminal may comprise a plurality ofvocoder transmission rates one of which may be selected and used toprovide voice communications and/or a plurality of data transmissionrates one of which may be selected and used to provide datacommunications and the radioterminal may be configured to preferentiallyselect and use a vocoder transmission rate and/or a data transmissionrate that is low (or the lowest) compared to the other vocoder and/ordata transmission rates included in the radioterminal when theradioterminal is providing space-based communications and/or terrestrialcommunications to thereby reduce a power and/or EIPR level that theradioterminal uses to provide the space-based and/or terrestrialcommunications. The vocoder and/or data transmission rate that theradioterminal receives from an ATC and/or a space-based component may behigher than the vocoder and/or data transmission rate that theradioterminal transmits to the ATC and/or the space-based component.

In some embodiments, the transceiver of the radioterminal comprises aPower Amplifier (PA) that is configured to provide a first maximumoutput power level when the radioterminal is providing terrestrialcommunications and a second maximum output power level when theradioterminal is providing space-based communications. In someembodiments the second maximum output power level is greater than thefirst maximum output power level. In other embodiments, the transceiverof the radioterminal may be configured with a plurality of poweramplifiers corresponding to a respective plurality of maximum outputpower levels and/or frequency bands that the radioterminal uses toprovide terrestrial and/or space-based communications.

The transceiver of the radioterminal may be configured with one LowNoise Amplifier (LNA) that is used by the radioterminal to receiveterrestrial and space-based communications or the transceiver of theradioterminal may comprise first and second LNAs wherein the first LNAis used by the radioterminal to receive terrestrial communications andthe second LNA is used by the radioterminal to receive space-basedcommunications. In some embodiments, a Noise Figure (NF) of thetransceiver of the radioterminal is at a lower value (dB) when thetransceiver of the radioterminal is providing space-based communicationscompared to a NF of the transceiver of the radioterminal when theradioterminal is providing terrestrial communications.

In further embodiments, one or more antenna element(s) of theradioterminal is/are configured to transmit communications to an ATCand/or to a space-based component using substantially CircularlyPolarized (CP) and/or Linearly Polarized (LP) electro-magnetic energyand the ATC and/or the space-based component is/are configured totransmit communications to the radioterminal using substantially CPand/or LP electromagnetic energy and one or more radioterminal antennaelement(s) is/are configured to receive and process the CP and/or the LPelectromagnetic energy that is transmitted from the ATC and/or thespace-based component and received at the radioterminal.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed embodimentsof the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they areused in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the followingclaims.

1. A radioterminal comprising: a transceiver that is configured forspace-based communications and for terrestrial wireless communications;a hands-free interface; and a satellite/hands-free interlock that isconfigured to prevent the transceiver from transmitting space-basedcommunications unless the hands-free interface is activated.
 2. Aradioterminal according to claim 1 wherein the hands-free interfacecomprises a coupling for a remote earpiece and/or a speakerphoneinterface.
 3. A radioterminal according to claim 1 further comprising: ahand-held interface, wherein the interlock is further configured toprevent the transceiver from transmitting space-based communicationswhen the hand-held interface is activated.
 4. A radioterminal accordingto claim 3 wherein the hand-held interface comprises a built in speakerconfigured to provide audio output corresponding to wirelesscommunications received by the transceiver and/or by another device thatis coupled to the radioterminal.
 5. A radioterminal according to claim 3wherein the satellite/hands-free interlock is configured to provide auser notification to activate the hands-free interface in response to arequest to transmit space-based communications when the hand-heldinterface is activated.
 6. A radioterminal according to claim 5 whereinthe satellite/hands-free interlock is further configured to enable thetransceiver to transmit space-based communications for a period of timeafter the request to transmit space-based communications withoutactivation of the hands-free interface.
 7. A radioterminal according toclaim 3 wherein the satellite/hands-free interlock is further configuredto allow the transceiver to transmit terrestrial communications when thehand-held interface is activated.
 8. A method of operating aradioterminal including a transceiver configured for space-basedcommunications and for terrestrial wireless communications, and ahands-free interface, the method comprising: allowing the transceiver totransmit terrestrial wireless communications when the hands-freeinterface is not activated; and preventing the transceiver fromtransmitting space-based communications unless the hands-free interfaceis activated.
 9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the hands-freeinterface comprises a coupling for a remote earpiece and/or aspeakerphone interface.
 10. A method according to claim 8 furthercomprising: preventing the transceiver from transmitting space-basedcommunications when a hand-held interface is activated.
 11. A methodaccording to claim 10 wherein the hand-held interface comprises a builtin speaker configured to provide audio output corresponding to wirelesscommunications received by the transceiver and/or by another device thatis coupled to the radioterminal when the hand-held interface isactivated.
 12. A method according to claim 10 further comprising:providing a user notification to activate the hands-free interface inresponse to a request to transmit space-based communications when thehand-held interface is activated.
 13. A method according to claim 12further comprising: enabling the transceiver to transmit the space-basedcommunications for a period of time after the request to transmit thespace-based communications without activation of the hands-freeinterface when the hand-held interface is activated.
 14. A methodaccording to claim 10 further comprising: allowing the transceiver totransmit terrestrial communications when the hand-held interface isactivated.
 15. A radioterminal comprising: a transceiver that isconfigured for space-based communications and for terrestrial wirelesscommunications; an antenna that is selectively configurable in at leasta low profile or a high profile position and/or orientation; and asatellite interlock that is configured to prevent the transceiver fromtransmitting communications at a high power and/or EIRP that is greaterthan or equal to a threshold responsive to the antenna being configuredin the low profile position and/or orientation, to allow the transceiverto transmit communications at the high power and/or EIRP responsive tothe antenna being configured in the high profile position and/ororientation, and to allow the transceiver to transmit communications ata low power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to a thresholdindependent of the antenna's position and/or orientation.
 16. Aradioterminal comprising: a transceiver that is configured forspace-based communications and for terrestrial wireless communications;a user interface that is selectively configurable in at leastspeakerphone mode, push-to-send mode and/or push-to-talk mode or next toa user's ear mode; and a satellite interlock that is configured toprevent the transceiver from transmitting communications at a powerand/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to a threshold responsive tothe user interface is being configured in next to the user's ear mode.17. A radioterminal according to claim 15 wherein the high profileposition and/or orientation of the antenna maintains a distance from theradioterminal and/or a user's head that is greater than a distancemaintained by the low profile position and/or orientation of the antennafrom the radioterminal and/or the user's head.
 18. A radioterminalaccording to claim 1 wherein the transceiver is configured to transmithigh power communications at a power and/or EIRP that is greater than orequal to a high power threshold and to transmit low power communicationsat a power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to a low powerthreshold.
 19. A radioterminal according to claim 1 wherein thetransceiver includes at least one amplifier configured to amplify lowpower communications for transmission at a power and/or EIRP that isless than or equal to a low power threshold and to amplify high powercommunications for transmission at a power and/or EIRP that is greaterthan or equal to a high power threshold.
 20. A radioterminal accordingto claim 1 wherein the interlock is further configured to enable thetransceiver to transmit high power communications at a power and/or EIRPthat is greater than or equal to a high power threshold when thehands-free interface is activated.
 21. A radioterminal according toclaim 1 wherein the hands-free interface comprises a coupling for aremote earpiece and/or speaker.
 22. A radioterminal according to claim21 wherein the coupling for the remote earpiece and/or speaker comprisesa tethered and/or an untethered coupling.
 23. A radioterminal accordingto claim 21 wherein the coupling for the remote earpiece and/or speakercomprises an interface for a cradle configured to receive theradioterminal and/or to couple the radioterminal to a remoteloudspeaker.
 24. A radioterminal according to claim 1 wherein thehands-free interface comprises a speakerphone interface.
 25. Aradioterminal according to claim 1 further comprising: an interface fora companion device, wherein the interface is configured to providecommunications from the radioterminal to the companion device and/or toprovide communications from the companion device to the radioterminal.26. A radioterminal according to claim 25 wherein the interfacecomprises a wireless interface and/or a wired interface.
 27. Aradioterminal according to claim 25 further comprising: a radioterminalantenna coupled to the transceiver, wherein the companion deviceincludes a companion antenna, and wherein a gain of the companionantenna is greater than a gain of the radioterminal antenna.
 28. Aradioterminal according to claim 25 wherein the transceiver includes atransmission amplifier and a low noise amplifier inside theradioterminal, wherein the companion device includes a transmissionamplifier and/or a low noise amplifier inside the companion device, andwherein a power output of the transmission amplifier inside thecompanion device is greater than a power output of the transmissionamplifier inside the radioterminal and/or a noise figure of the lownoise amplifier inside the companion device is less than or equal to anoise figure of the low noise amplifier inside the radioterminal.
 29. Aradioterminal according to claim 1 further comprising a hand-heldinterface configured to provide communications received by thetransceiver and/or by a device that is wirelessly and/or non-wirelesslycoupled to the radioterminal.
 30. A radioterminal according to claim 29wherein responsive to a request to transmit high power communications ata power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to a high powerthreshold when the hand-held interface is active, the interlock isconfigured to provide a user notification to activate the hands-freeinterface.
 31. A radioterminal according to claim 30 wherein theinterlock is further configured to enable the transceiver to transmitthe high power communications responsive to activation of the hands-freeinterface.
 32. A radioterminal according to claim 30 wherein theinterlock is further configured to enable the transceiver to transmitthe high power communications for a period of time after the request totransmit the high power communications and before activation of thehands-free interface when the hand-held interface is activated.
 33. Aradioterminal according to claim 25 wherein responsive to a request totransmit high power communications at a power and/or EIRP that isgreater than or equal to a high power threshold and/or to receivespace-based communications, the interlock is configured to provide auser notification to activate the interface for the companion device.34. A radioterminal according to claim 33 wherein the interlock isfurther configured to provide communications through the interface tothe companion device and/or to provide communications through theinterface to the radioterminal from the companion device responsive toactivating the interface for the companion device.
 35. A radioterminalaccording to claim 33 wherein the interlock is further configured toenable the transceiver for a period of time to transmit the high powercommunications after the user notification to activate the interface forthe companion device and before activation of the interface for thecompanion device.
 36. A radioterminal according to claim 1 wherein theinterlock is further configured to allow the transceiver to transmit lowpower communications at a power and/or EIRP that is less than or equalto the low power threshold when the hands-free interface is activated.37. A method according to claim 8 wherein the transceiver is configuredto transmit the space-based communications at a power and/or EIRP thatis greater than or equal to a high power threshold and to transmitterrestrial wireless communications at a power and/or EIRP that is lessthan or equal to a low power threshold.
 38. A method according to claim8 wherein the transceiver includes at least one amplifier configured toamplify the terrestrial wireless communications and to amplify thespace-based communications, and wherein preventing the transceiver fromtransmitting the space-based communications unless the hands-freeinterface is activated comprises disabling and/or limiting at least oneamplifier unless the hands-free interface is activated.
 39. A methodaccording to claim 8 wherein the hands-free interface is coupled to thetransceiver, the method further comprising: enabling the transceiver totransmit high power communications at a power and/or EIRP that isgreater than or equal to a high power threshold when the hands-freeinterface is activated.
 40. A method according to claim 8 wherein thehands-free interface comprises a coupling for a remote earpiece and/orspeaker.
 41. A method according to claim 8 wherein the hands-freeinterface comprises a speakerphone interface.
 42. A method according toclaim 8 wherein the radioterminal further includes an interface for acompanion device, the method further comprising: providingcommunications from the radioterminal through the interface to thecompanion device and/or providing communications from the companiondevice through the interface to the radioterminal.
 43. A methodaccording to claim 8 wherein the radioterminal further includes ahand-held interface comprising a built-in speaker configured to provideaudio output corresponding to wireless communications received by thetransceiver and/or by another device that is coupled to theradioterminal.
 44. A method according to claim 8 wherein the hands-freeinterface is coupled to the transceiver, the method further comprising:providing a user notification to activate the hands-free interfaceresponsive to a request to transmit high power communications.
 45. Amethod according to claim 44 further comprising: enabling thetransceiver to transmit the high power communications responsive toactivation of the hands-free interface.
 46. A method according to claim44 further comprising: after the request to transmit the high powercommunications and before activation of the hands-free interface,enabling the transceiver to transmit the high power communications for aperiod of time.
 47. A method according to claim 8 wherein theradioterminal includes an interface for a companion device, the methodfurther comprising: providing a user notification to activate theinterface for the companion device responsive to a request to transmithigh power communications.
 48. A method according to claim 47 furthercomprising: providing communications from the radioterminal through theinterface to the companion device and/or providing communications fromthe companion device through the interface to the radioterminalresponsive to activating the interface for the companion device.
 49. Amethod according to claim 47 further comprising: enabling thetransceiver to transmit the high power communications for a period oftime after the request to transmit high power communications and beforeactivation of the interface for the companion device.
 50. Aradioterminal according to claim 27 wherein the radioterminal antennacomprises a substantially linearly polarized and/or circularly polarizedelement and wherein the companion antenna comprises a substantiallycircularly polarized element.